NEMA begins flood preparedness campaign in Kano

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has launched an early warning and flood preparedness campaign in Doka community, Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State, ahead of the 2025 rainy season.

The campaign, aimed at promoting early action to save lives and protect livelihoods, was part of a stakeholders’ engagement organized in collaboration with the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). The event, themed “Strengthening Resilience, Enhancing Preparedness and Response,” brought together local leaders, government officials, youth groups, and other stakeholders.

Director General of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, represented by the agency’s Kano Territorial Coordinator, Dr. Nuradeen Umar, said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on driving sustainable socio-economic development.

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“In recent years, floods have claimed lives and destroyed infrastructure worth billions of naira,” Dr. Umar said. “This campaign aims to reduce such impacts through proactive preparedness and early warning systems.”

He revealed that NEMA has developed vulnerability maps for flood-prone communities and urged both public and private sectors, including NGOs and schools, to use these tools to support government mitigation efforts.

NEMA has also implemented several disaster mitigation strategies, including capacity building for local emergency responders, rainwater harvesting, simulation exercises, and encouraging farmers to align planting with rainfall predictions. Additional measures include desilting of drainages, conducting infrastructure integrity tests, preparing evacuation plans, and enhancing security in vulnerable areas.

Dr. Umar also emphasized the wider consequences of flood disasters on sectors such as health, agriculture, transport, energy, and education, calling on traditional and religious leaders, youth, women, and the media to help spread early warning messages.

Speaking at the event, the Secretary to the State Government, Faruk Ibrahim, cited forecasts that suggest moderate flooding in Kano Central and possible severe drought in parts of Kano North. He stressed the need to empower local emergency teams with training, funding, and equipment.

“We must support our local emergency structures, as they are the first responders before state-level aid arrives,” he said.

The Executive Secretary of Kano SEMA, Isyaku Kubarachi, also praised the initiative, revealing that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has ordered the clearing of drainages across the state to reduce flood risks.

“Preparedness is key to saving lives, property, and resources. Collaborative efforts are essential,” Kubarachi added.